South Carolina lands fast-rising 4-star lineman and underrated LB

Austin Clark visited three schools in the last two weeks–South Carolina must have made the best impression.

The Virginia native also checked out Virginia Tech and Tennessee, but bypassed both and chose the Gamecocks Thursday. He is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle out of Rockbridge County H.S. in Lexington (Va.). He is the Gamecocks’ seventh commitment that holds a four-star ranking, and he’s the 13th overall. With the addition of Clark, South Carolina moved up to No. 6 in the national recruiting rankings. Only Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M have better SEC classes, along with Clemson and Penn State nationally.

South Carolina’s top seven commitments are all ranked in the national individual top 250–an impressive showing considering how early things are in the 2015 recruiting cycle.

That wasn’t the only pickup for the Gamecocks on Thursday, as linebacker Jalen Henry committed to the Gamecocks. He is a 6-foot-0, 220-pound prospect out of Foley (Ala.). He currently holds no rating, but that will surely change now that he’s an SEC commitment.

“It will be a challenge but every young athlete’s dream (to play in the SEC),” Henry told Saturday Down South right after committing. “The thing that make the Gamecocks great are the great group of people that surround you. It’s great to be a Gamecock today and tomorrow. It’s time to jell with my team. Go Gamecocks!”